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U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran on Sunday of violating a temporary ceasefire agreement by firing on commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz, including vessels he identified as British and French. The United Kingdom swiftly rejected the claim, saying it had no reports of any such attacks.
"Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz, a total violation of our ceasefire agreement," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Many of them were aimed at a French ship, and a freighter from the United Kingdom."
The accusations came less than a day after Iran had reopened the strategically critical waterway, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply passes. According to reports, the strait was again closed on Saturday, with several vessels reporting being targeted by Iranian forces while attempting transit.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre, which monitors maritime security incidents in the region, said Saturday that a container ship near the strait had been struck by an unknown projectile. The centre reported damage to containers but noted no casualties or fires onboard. It also announced that two Iranian gunboats had opened fire on a tanker in the strait. The UKMTO routinely withholds vessel identification in such alerts for security reasons.
Despite the UKMTO's separate incident reports, the British government moved quickly to distance itself from Trump's specific characterization of events. A government spokesman told The Telegraph that no reports of UK vessels being attacked had been received, adding plainly: "We don't recognise this claim."
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